Conway’s
reputation continued to improve. She was now an established success
with growing importance in the training of a new breed of professional
merchant service officers. An annual report acknowledged, “Many of the
leading ship owners of Liverpool will give a preference to the Cadets
of the Institution”.
On
4th February 1864 HM Queen Victoria acknowledged Conway’s achievements
and announced her intention to grant £50 annually, to be distributed in
prizes to Conway boys; and to present annually a gold medal. “Her
Majesty’s wish in the establishment of this prize is to encourage the
boys to acquire and maintain the qualities which will make the finest
sailor. They consist of cheerful submission to superiors, self-respect
and independence of character, kindness and protection to the weak,
readiness to forgive offence, desire to conciliate the differences of
others, and above all, fearless devotion to duty, and unflinching
truthfulness.” These were high ideals, but they encapsulate what
Conway strove to encourage in her cadets. They didn’t just make fine
sailors, they developed exemplary men who have succeeded in every walk
of life for precisely those reasons.
The royal announcement continued;
“The medal will be open to boys who have been one year on board the
ship, and have received not less than half the total number of marks at
the previous quarterly examinations. The commander, after conferring
with the head masters, shall select not less than three, nor more than
five of the boys whom he considers to possess the qualities for which
the prize is given. He shall then submit these names to the boys who
have been assembled for the purpose in the school, and each boy who has
been on board six months previously to the time of distribution shall
then and there vote for one of the boys so selected. The boy who
receives the highest number of votes shall receive the medal. These
regulations shall be placed upon a board on the main deck, to be called
the Queen’s Prize List”, and the name of each boy who receives the
medal shall berecorded upon such list.” The board, a large
framed black board, is now in the Conway Chapel at Birkenhead Priory
and it faithfully records the names of all the winners on gold
lettering. The first recipient was cadet Oswald Hillkirk. Queen
Victoria’s award helped shape the lives of thousands and through them
to influence the lives of countless others, which was probably her
intent.
The Queen also awarded a prize to the boys competing for cadetships in
the Royal Navy. “The prize will consist of a binocular glass, with a
suitable inscription, together with £35 towards the expense of the
outfit of the boy.”
A new design was created in 1952 when HM Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne. It was designed by Mary Gillick also see her profile
Photos of winners and ceremonies are here
* Medal presented by the monarch in person (Prince of Wales in 1931)
+ Medal winner later became Captain Superintendent.